Maggie Savelberg's blog

At the OSCP AGM meeting this past weekend, September 11-12th, 2009, a discussion surrounding the possible implications of an H1N1 pandemic, on provincial wide perfusion departments, was brought to the members' attention by Jim’s presentation.

Questions of government funding, steps for preparation by perfusion, problems of resource attainment, and potential staffing issues were brought up by members from the floor and ideas were shared. One concluding recommendation from this discussion was that an H1N1 web based product inventory be set up through the OSCP website. Cyril Serrick suggested that while we are unable to plan for additional stocking at this point, that at least perfusion departments across the province should be able to share the status of their current stock necessary to be able to provide ECMO service to our patients. Steve Ditmore proposed that an online inventory through the OSCP site would eliminate the need for one individual person to check in and update site specific stock numbers. I think this would be a great idea, and furthermore would allow for real-time updates as stock numbers can be changed by hospital sites themselves. In these potential pandemic scenarios, fewer paths of second hand information save not only time, but also translate into more accurate data shared.

I have spoken to my colleague here at KGH, Andy Zajac, who is our OSCP website engine maintainer regarding this idea. He is willing to work on setting up a section of the website on which individual hospital sites are able to log on, maintain and edit their own ECMO product/disposable inventory. Andy will keep us updated as to the steps required to access this page, how to enter the inventory and so on. (See tab at top of page - OHPIP) This will hopefully allow Ontario perfusionists to be able to report our collective ability to provide this service to all Ontario patients requiring ECMO for H1N1, as well as to act as a networked resource for one another, to aid all Ontario perfusion departments, in meeting their commitment for ECMO services.

Anyone with additional ideas, or suggestions as to how this should be done or alterations to the OSCP H1N1 product inventory (OHPIP) project, please feel free to give them! In order to have a starting point prior to funding, stocking and preparation discussions we should aim to invite all department managers and have all inventories submitted to the OHPIP by a specified date. This will depend on the ease of set-up on the OSCP site, but should not be long. If anyone has a deadline to suggest, please let us know.

Thank you so much for opening this important discussion Jim, and to Andy for looking into making this happen. We will all keep in touch with regular updates.

OSCP H1N1 Product Inventory Project (OHPIP) Summary:

1.At the 2009 OSCP AGM it was suggested that a collective product inventory be established.
2.For ease of access, real-time updates, accuracy a web-based inventory was recommended.
3.Andy Zajac our OSCP web engine maintainer is working on the design and implementation of this inventory project.
4.All Ontario perfusion department leaders will be contacted/emailed and invited to participate, and a deadline to submit all numbers determined.
5.Updates will be provided as progress is made through the OSCP website.
6.Suggestions, recommendations and alterations are welcomed and encouraged, this is only a start. :)

In the spirit of collegiality and communication I thought it may be nice to post some of the photos taken at this year's (2009) OSCP AGM and Scientific Sessions. If only to point out our silly pictures, and bad hair - they are up. :)

To view the 2009 OSCP AGM and Scientific Session photographs please follow the link provided below, or follow the AGM link in the top screen bar.

http://www.oscp.ca/image

Good Afternoon!

Today I came across a meeting being held in Ottawa this upcoming weekend, June 4-7th, 2009 - for all of those involved in health care practice that are responsible or have been delegated the act of blood product transfusion. It is called the Canadian Society for Transfusion Medicine 2009 Meeting. I have attached the program for those of you that are interested. The topic of blood conservation, as well as adverse reactions, a talk on "Cardiac Disease, Hematopoiesis and Autoimmune Diseases", recent trials, special patients i.e. sickle cell anemia, ethics of transfusion, and the basic science of the "red cell age". I am unfortunately unable to make it, however thought it may be of interest to some.

I have also posted a recent publication (Jan 2009) by the CBS which discusses the manor in which blood products are to be visually examined. I was not aware previously that there was a "specific method" and explanations for abnormalities we should be looking for, and was happy to come across this. There are a lot of good pictures which accompany the booklet.

Hope everyone is enjoying the sunshine!

Maggie

Hi Everyone!

As a recent graduate of the perfusion program, I had the pleasure of attending the CCS meeting this past October.
I enjoyed the presentations, the discussions, and the company all very much. I recently recalled a question brought
up at that time regarding marketing of the profession and whether something more active should be done about
creating awareness about perfusion. It came to mind that there may be one small group to whom perfusion would be
a very interesting, if not perfect career option. These are the students of the life sciences program at Queen's University,
whose subject of specialization is Cardiovascular-Respiratory Science. Here is a link if any are interested in learning
about the program: http://meds.queensu.ca/lifesciences/home.

I am sure there are other university programs across the country that may be similar, this is just an example I am aware of.
I know first hand as my sister graduated from the program. She told me about cardiovascular pharmacology courses,
collaborative courses with respiratory therapy at Kingston General Hospital, and just as a bonus the students are allowed
to go on cardiology and some surgical rounds. All of these rounds have also been taped and are shown in class, and
discussions follow re: drug therapy choice, pathophysiology of disease etc..

The whole idea excited me, and I thought that maybe someone would find it interesting too. Can we or should the school not
be able to attend the university career fairs that are held and perhaps gain some of these people's interest? Is there something
that perhaps may be gained from their program for our CVP program as well?

Just thoughts.I hope you all enjoyed a much deserved holiday season!

Take care,

Maggie